islamicate

I don't mean to be rude

I apologize for being slow on comments and on emails. For those who don't know, I am an Islamicist (not and Islamist). So when things like the London bombings happen, I spend a lot of time going around and giving talks, writing briefing papers, and responding to the media. Most of what you get here are my first thoughts, and your feedback remains invaluable. I hope to catch up with most of the comments today and tomorrow.

Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage

A UNC library site dedicated to Afghanistan Cultural Heritage.

Technorati Tags: Islamic Art, Afghanistan

Out of Context

One of the things that happens after a terrorist bombing committed by those who claim to be Muslim is that Islamophobes start quoting the Qur'an out of context saying that Islam is a violent religion dedicated to taking over the world and enslaving everyone else (yes, it is the Protocols of the Elders of Zion revisited).

I'm waiting for the day when some Islamophobe says the proof that Islam is Judeophobic is that Muslims revere a prophet named Isa who entered a synagogue and flipped over tables and drove people out claiming that they were practicing a false religion. It is in fact an event recorded in the Injil in John 2:13-16, Matthew 21:12-13, and Mark 11:15-17. For those of you still unsure, Isa is the Arabic name for Jesus and Injil is the name of the Gospels.

I digress. In the spirit of acontextual citation, below are some verses from the Qur'an about people of other faiths. Translations are pulled from several sources, mixed in with my own work. When I quote directly, I will give the reference.

Technorati Tags: London 7/7, London Bombing, Qur'an

Muslim condemnations of London bombing… [updated]

I had hoped to create a list of Muslim organizations and individuals condemning the London bombing, because every time something like this happens, there are voices that say violence is an intrinsic part of the Islamic tradition, and claim that because no Muslims have denounced the violence, it must be true. However, Muslims are constantly denouncing violence, but we are speaking from soap boxes. The fringe of humanity (these terrorists are the fringe of humanity, not just Islam) will always be louder. While gathering my material, several other sites have compiled these condemnations, including non-English material. I am linking to those sites, and will try to keep this article as updated as I can. Please send as many as you can my way, or post in comments.

Juan Cole (includes the mythbuster that no Muslim has condemned OBL. Many a Muslim has denounced Osama, including major religious figures.)
Juan Cole 2 (On London specifically.)
Dervish Dua (1, 2)
Al-Muhajabah (continues, great resource list on condemning terrorism in general)
Global Voices (1, 2)
BritishAsian (personal note)
Fareed Zakaria

Technorati Tags: London 7/7, London Bombing

London, G8, and the Bombings

My prayers are with the primary victims of today's bombing attack in London. My prayers are with their families and friends. My thoughts are with the secondary victims, and with all of London as they try to recover.

However, Al-Qaeda, in their self-interested perception of the world have not only killed innocents, contrary to the revelation of the Qur'an, but they have moved the news spotlight on to their egotistical selves - further proof that they are not capable of dealing with a real jihad against their base selves. This is important, because regardless of what you think the G8 can accomplish, the fact that Tony Blair had climate change and poverty on the agenda was a monumental feat. Whatever the meeting itself accomplished, there was a renewed interest in those topics. I cannot imagine many more topics that resonate with the Islamic ethos - mankind as khalifa of God's creation is entrusted with caring for the environment; the Prophet (PBUH) took care of the least amongst his people before he took care of himself, is there a better role model?

Al-Qaeda has decided that not only are defenseless innocents their toughest targets, but that no aspect of God's revelation is too important for them to ignore. They haven't killed people in this moment; they haven't killed hopes of a revivification of Islamic thought; they have killed hope for the future; they have killed people not yet born.

Understand, Al-Qaeda is not only about hatred; they are not only about denying and destroying the Islamic spirit; they are about destroying hope; about destroying the future. Their only concern is themselves. Not God's message. Not their interpretation of God's message. They have to be the center of everyone's attention. Like spoiled brats they make noise to get noticed, but there's no meaning to the noise. There's no way to make it stop.

These bombings must not bury the importance of the G8 meeting. Start by going to this website.

Technorati Tags: London 7/7, London Bombing, G8

First thoughts on London

These thoughts were actually not my first on the London bombings today. However, they have recently come to me, and I want to document them.

The delay in my posting was due to the fact that I was waiting to hear from/about friends and family in London. (shukrunlillah, everyone seems to be OK). It dawned on me, that as much as I talk about being Muslim and American, about the search for shared humanity, and today really brought home the point that even to me, subconsciously, there is a distinction – the internalization of being the “other?” – between a Muslim identity and other identities. And the bombings collapsed that division again. Like on 9/11, there were Muslim victims on the trains and on the bus. They were targeted because they were English. They were targeted because they were Muslim. They were targeted because they had achieved something that most people in the US take for granted - the ability to live with different people.

What these terrorists cannot abide is difference. Their identity is tied to the simplest, stupidest, most unaware, taqwa-less understanding of the world. Anything that challenges their vision - whether humanity, or any other of God's creation, or God's revelation - is anathema to them. Hatred and intolerance is their victory. Do not give in. DO NOT GIVE IN!

Technorati Tags: London 7/7, London Bombing

Responding to London [Updated}

These attacks are horrible. I cannot say enough to demonstrate how opposed they are to the spirit of the Prophetic message, the revelation of the Qur'an, and the spirit of Islam. However, most of the day will be spent trying to do that.

I'm putting together a few things, including a list of all Muslims (sites, statements, etc.) who are condemning the attack.

Also, for those of you tagging, please use “London Bombing” so we can keep track.

To the bombers: 5:32
To the victims: 2:156

Update: It seems “London 7/7” is another tag floating around, so please use that as well.

Technorati Tags: London Bombing, London 7/7